Shotgun for deer?

[bobcat]

Are 2 3/4" slugs worth a try for deer?

I hope so- that's what I'm using for elk. Balistically they're pretty similar to many muzzleloader loads.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Thanks.

[bobcat]

I'm not sure I'd want to shoot the 3 inch slugs- I'm afraid of the recoil.   

[pods8]

2-3/4" often shoot better than the 3" slugs actually.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 I have an old Ithaca featherweight I might try.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 One last dumb question and I'll quit hijacking Brian's thread , a standard factory barrel work's fine for slugs?

[Ridgerunner]

no worries, I am learning lots, I don't know anything about shooting slugs out of shotguns so I appreciate all the info. 

[MuleySniper]

I used my shotgun last year. One thing I will recommend is to NOT use buckshot and only use a slug. Trust me on this one I used BS last year and the first shot blew up his shoulder and he dropped. Then he managed to hobble run about 70 yards before he bedded down. I waited and waited what seemed like forever. I finally made the choice to get within distance and shoot him again. Even after the follow up shot, he took some time to expire. I'll never use BS again. 
MS

[pods8]

One last dumb question and I'll quit hijacking Brian's thread , a standard factory barrel work's fine for slugs?

Standard factory barrel in what? 

I'm going to assume you're talking about a normal smooth bore shotgun based on the question for starters.  Is it a fixed choke or changeable?  Either way what is it or currently installed?  Something like a full choke would be BAD, IC which is common works fine.  Improved modified should likely be fine too even though its tighter.

From there "works fine" just means its save to shoot the cheap lead "rifled slugs".  Performance you'll have to see as each gun/ammo combo can be finicky but 50-70yds will likely be your max as mentioned.  Depends if that fits "works fine" in your mind.

[Forrestrover]

Plain ole Foster slugs fired from a standard bird gun, mod choke or looser, bead site, accurate enough to take deer at 75 yards or less.  Punches a big hole in them, massive internal damage, little meat damage when compared to high velocity rifle damage.

I certainly found this to be true last year. Got a blacktail with my 870, used an I/C choke, 2 3/4 Winchester slug, smoothbore, and just my bead sights.
I hit him within 15 yards. He dropped in his tracks, of course.
I usually hunt the muzzleloader season, so it was natural for me to be hunting with the close-range limitations in mind.

[ribka]

Have hunted in Iowa and MD, PA and NJ for wt's and have taken over 20 deer. Good advice here

No rifling stick with a IC choke and no sabot slugs. Effective range about 50-70 yds. Buy a rifled barrel and can shoot to 125 yds. Some guys really like the 20 gauge with rifled barrel.

Buy different brans of slugs. They come in 5 round boxes and try to see what shoots best from your shotgun.

[elksnout]

I've never killed a deer "deader" than with a slug out the end of my 870. There's no trackin.

[PolarBear]

I've never killed a deer "deader" than with a slug out the end of my 870. There's no trackin.

I belly crawled up to a 3 point blacktail, hit him with a slug at 15-20 feet from the old side by side and it was if he had died before he hit the ground.  He literally dropped in his tracks and never moved.

[flashover52]

I grew up back east where rifles were not allowed in the state for deer hunting.

I used to use a 20 gauge Ithaca Featherlight with 2 3/4" shells. We would routinely alternate the shells with slug/buckshot/slug/buckshot so you could eject the slug and use the buckshot if they were real close in the pine trees.

I know many older folks who have taken many deer with a .410 without any problems -- that is provided you can hit your target.

[pods8]

We would routinely alternate the shells with slug/buckshot/slug/buckshot so you could eject the slug and use the buckshot if they were real close in the pine trees.

This statement sorta scares me.  Close in the pines a slug would tear right through, the only thing I could see about buckshot is a more open spread if you didn't quite know where to be aiming... at that is the part that worries me.  Am I over looking something here?